Sunny flood hits Gippsland

The phenomenon is being referred to as a 'sunny flood' or a 'silent flood,' because the floodwaters have come from catchments much further upstream.

Several flood gates have been opened on Lake Glenmaggie, releasing water into the Macalister River and causing high stream levels and minor flooding along the Thomson River downstream of the Macalister River Junction.

While the floods have caused landslides and the evacuation of homes in the states northeast, many farmers in Gippsland say it will bring enormous benefits to agriculture in terms of increased water allocations.

The flood waters spilling from Lake Glenmaggie do not come out of irrigator's yearly water allocations, and the flood waters will help to promote pasture growth on many farms.

Dairy farmer Terry Horan believes around 50 per cent of his property at Bundalaguah has been flooded but he says it's "very good for the country".

"Having a full irrigation allocation is really handy and it fills up all the lagoons on the property. At the moment we're sitting at 90 per cent allocation but I would say there's probably nearly 100 per cent going across the property at the moment."

But not everyone is happy with the flooding.

David Ross lives on Riversdale Road near Maffra and his house is surrounded by floodwaters from both the Thomson and Macalister Rivers.

Residents in the state's northeast were sent text and telephone messages telling of dangers in their area, but Mr Ross claims he received very little warning from emergency services that the flood was coming.

"There is no warning. It's a Chinese whisper system where the neighbour of the neighbour of the neighbour calls the neighbour," he says.

Mr Ross is only able to access his home via four-wheel drive.

"Tomorrow I've got a tilt-tray truck coming out to pick up my car so I can go to work," he says. "You can't get a vehicle, other than a four-wheel-drive, to my house."

Melva Barton has a cattle grazing property at Hillside, six kilometres west of Bairnsdale.

She estimates around 80 per cent of her farm on the Mitchell River is under water, but she says this flood pales in comparison to the Gippsland floods of 2007, which cost Victoria $60 million.

"This is small compared to some," she says. "It's a good flow and it will be a good irrigation for the next few weeks."